The failure load of single‐lap steel joints (subjected to compressive force) with epoxy/nano‐Al2O3 adhesives containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt% of sphere and rod nano‐Al2O3 was analyzed at quasi‐static loading. At optimum wt% (1.5 wt%) of nano‐Al2O3, the failure load of epoxy/nano‐Al2O3 adhesive was determined at high strain rates using Kolsky bar. Critical stress intensity factor of the adhesive layer at the corner of single‐lap joints was calculated from the experimentally obtained failure load. A substantial improvement in the failure load and critical stress intensity factor of epoxy/nano‐Al2O3 adhesives was achieved compared to the base adhesive at quasi‐static and high shear strain rates. Whereas, the failure load of epoxy/nano‐Al2O3 adhesives containing 1.5 wt% of sphere and rod nano‐Al2O3 at high shear strain rates were 3 to 5 times more than the static failure load of adhesives. The reinforcement of sphere nano‐Al2O3 in epoxy had better performance on failure load and critical stress intensity factor of joints compared to rod nano‐Al2O3 under the compressive mode of loading.